High-purity quartz (HPQ) mining and processing
CHOKEPOINTSibelco and one other firm mine a unique Spruce Pine vein that feeds nearly all semiconductor-grade crucibles, and no comparable deposit is in production.
Extraction and beneficiation of vein quartz to >99.99% SiO2 for polysilicon crucibles, process tubes, and optical fibre. Semiconductor wafer pulling requires crucibles from this specific geological source. Sibelco and The Quartz Corp at Spruce Pine control approximately 95% of global supply, commanding extreme pricing power.
What the evidence shows
In 2024, Spruce Pine supplied over 70% of global HPQ due to its exceptional purity.
persistencemarketresearch.comScarcity of potential mined supply comparable to Spruce Pine limits high-end HPQ expansion.
crugroup.comWho controls it
Where it sits in the stack
Takes in: Raw quartzite ore
Sends on: Purified HPQ sand and lump; silica crucibles; quartz process tubes
Full scorecard, owner shares, supply edges and the full tracked roster are in the desk letter.
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